Spatial Modeling of Ecological and Environmental Drivers of Forest Biomass in Southeastern United States.

Understanding the complex interplay between ecological and environmental drivers of forest biomass is crucial for effective forest management and biodiversity conservation. This study explores this interplay in the southeastern United States by integrating forest attributes, climate variables, and terrain characteristics. Advanced modeling techniques, including Geographical Weighted Regression (GWR) and hotspot analysis, were employed to capture spatial heterogeneity and local regression coefficients specific to each site. Our analysis revealed significant relationships between ecological attributes (Shannon tree structural diversity, species diversity) and environmental factors (temperature, precipitation, hillshade) and aboveground biomass distribution. Notably, hillshade emerged as a significant predictor of aboveground biomass at select locations. Precipitation and temperature positively influenced aboveground biomass at 39% and 55% of sites, respectively, while negative effects were observed in 44% and 42% of sites, respectively. Similarly, tree structural and species diversity positively impacted aboveground biomass in 31% and 40% of sites, respectively, with contrasting effects in 39% and 46% of locations, respectively. Our findings contribute to filling a critical knowledge gap by elucidating the individual and synergistic effects of ecological and environmental attributes on forest biomass distribution. They provide valuable insights into the spatial variability of biomass distribution, informing targeted forest management strategies in the southeast region of the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]